Once a term used almost exclusively by tech types, VoIP (an acronym that stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol”) has come to the forefront in recent years. In the digital era, the acronym has become more widely recognized by everyday Americans and the technology it represents has become more commonly used in average U.S. households far and wide.
But just what exactly is this telephone service also referred to as “internet telephony” and “IP telephony”? Consumers interested in knowing more about the technology and its benefits can take a deeper dive below.
What is VoIP?
At its most basic definition, VoIP is a technology that allows you to make voice calls over the internet instead of traditional phone wires. But to understand why VoIP is such an important technology, we need to look first at how landlines work.
In the past, all phone calls were made using the public telephone network, which transmits audio signals in large part using a nationwide system of copper wires. When consumers see telephone poles and telephone wires running alongside their neighborhood streets and throughout their cities, they are seeing the equipment needed to support this public telephone network.
While the traditional public telephone network is still widely used by people with landline phones in their homes, the widespread availability of the internet has opened the door to a new (and often cheaper) way to make phone calls: VoIP. The technology behind VoIP converts users’ voices and any other audio in their calls into data that can be quickly sent and received via the internet.
VoIP vs. Landlines
The biggest difference between a VoIP phone and a landline phone is that the latter uses a hardwired connection to the public telephone network, which it then uses to send and receive communications signals. Alternatively, with VoIP, callers’ voices are converted into digital files, which are then compressed and transmitted via the internet.
For users at home, the difference between actually making a VoIP call versus a landline call typically goes completely unnoticed. With either, users still pick up their phones, dial the number they want to call, then have their conversations when the person they call picks up on the other end.
3 leading benefits of VoIP
For consumers who already have quality, high-speed internet connections in their homes, leveraging a VoIP voice line is easy and can deliver a long list of advantages. Some of these benefits include:
- Attractive pricing: Because it uses a consumer’s already-in-place internet service to make its connections, VoIP can offer great pricing to those who leverage it. This is especially the case when features are factored in as VoIP often comes with an array of premium calling features included while the same options often carry added fees with traditional landlines. Long-distance service is often included with VoIP while traditional landlines can carry added charges.
- Broad features: As mentioned above, VoIP lines often come with a collection of built-in features at no added cost to consumers. Just a few of these can include premium options such as:
– Call Waiting
– Caller ID Name/Number
– Voicemail
– Voicemail-to-Email Delivery
– Anonymous Call Rejection
– Automatic Call Return
– Automatic Redial
– Call Forward
– Do Not Disturb
– Three-Way Calling
- Simple setup: Consumers who want to switch over to FTC VoIP can typically do so very easily. No special type of telephone is required, so they can keep using the same devices they already have in place.
Looking for budget-friendly Voice service with unlimited nationwide calling and a range of helpful calling features such as Voicemail, Call Forward, Do Not Disturb and Three-Way Calling? VoIP might be the perfect answer for you! To learn more about FTC’s Voice services, including VoIP, visit ftc.net today!
